Breaking into New Media

[Jeph Porter]

I hope everyone is having a good time at the Summit. Unfortunately I am unable to attend for both work/financial reasons. And it has me wondering, as a recent film school graduate who is interested in new media, how does one best break into the field?

I have produced my own web show and currently work for a life insurance company shooting and editing training videos for web delivery. But its not exactly the hot new media market I want to be in.

How does one best tap into this vein of excitement that seems the be permeating from the web? As a young up-and-coming media maker (if I can say so myself) what would you more experienced folks suggest as a good starting place? Or is there such a thing as an experienced person in new media? Seems like the possibilities are wide open and while this is the thing that attracts me to it, it is also the thing that scares me the most.

What do you think?

[Dorothee Royal-Hedinger]

HI Jeph (cool name by the way). Great work on the Dirty Cricket Show! I would say that you're on the right track by producing your own stuff and putting it out there. With new media, you kind of just have to DO it. Ofcourse at first this can be difficult both financially and because of the time invested. But if you build your own brand through a blog, web show, podcast, etc. you gain a lot of cache in the new media world. This is an industry full of do-it-yourselfers who are willing to take risks and put themselves out there. You're right that the possibilities are totally wide open and it can definitely be scary. Welcome.
-Dorothee

By the way, have you seen http://wheezywaiter.blip.tv/ He's a pretty funny local guy...

[Brian Montana]

Collaboration is also another great way you could work with a programmer and create an interactive video project, possibilities are endless. Collabs are also a great way to network too and gives you a great contact for future projects.

[Alex Untermyer]

I fear that the whole hype we hear is something we should ignore. If you are looking for another corporate job then it is all about who you know. I don't even know if this industry is at the point where people work in these new media jobs for free, like many in the old record business used to. I had some serious reservations over the 12 hour work day that volunteers were required to hold down in order to attend. I have a skeptical attitude about the whole convergence here when people can't attend the summit because of legitimate reasons you mentioned. I pitched an idea to John, where we will hold a meeting of minds in December at some free location like a public library or a school and just talk about what we are working on and share our experiences and frustrations. I truly feel that when people put their heads together there is no problem that cannot be solved. Maybe you can bring your cool videos and talk about them and what "new media" means to you along with the frustration you are having in turning this into your career. I have a feeling that there may be alot of "pyramid schemes" which older artists like myself are not unfamiliar with. In this case the hard work of the many is fueling the success of the few if you know what I mean. I look forward to meeting you in December. maybe this meeting could turn into a monthly forum or depending on how much material we will be sharing a weekly forum. The most frustrating thing I run into is finding other people who are searching for the same thing. I think alot of them have ended up here. It will be a testament to John if he allows this post to happen without it getting deleted. We need to discuss these things openly and freely in an unfettered way.

[Jeph Porter]

@ Dorothee (cool name yourself). And thanks for the praise, we had fun making the show. I agree with you on the nature of new media as a DIY industry and that is scary. It makes me wonder if as other say above that there isn't a lot of hype about it. But then again it is something that either works or it doesn't work and in all reality I don't feel that it would be any different than any other media arena. It has never been conventional so why should "new media" be in anyway.

Also, I had not seen wheezywaiter, but it is very funny. Thanks!

@Brian. I think collabs are amazing and as I said above, I don't think they are new to new media I think it is the nature of the collabs that is new. Just like the internet has brought people closer on a variety of topics it has done the same on media production.

@Alex. You make some very good points and it does strike right at the heart of the problem with new media. People aren't really willing to work for free (not for very long anyway) and/because we don't have a lot of money to begin with to toss into the new media thing. I agree that getting together and discussing/working on things is amazing and it gets things done amazingly well. But what are the conditions, what are the cost and more importantly what are the benefits? I would be interested in getting together with a group of interested people and discussing these ideas. I do agree with the summits main thesis that Chicago can be an epicenter for new media and that collaboration among the interested parties can make something happen here but I also agree that it should be open to all spectrums. I'd be interested in talking to you about this more.

Thanks for the replies all of you, I hope to stay in touch.

[Kevin Burrell]

Overall we have to try and enable others to create their own sustainable projects. The money will come once something bigger than the status quo penetrates pop culture. Crazy how we live in a culture that encourages information sharing but big organizations with established histories don't want to share information at all.

[Sean McMenemy]

-Jeph

It is wide open and Dorothee is right, you're on the right path. There there are a lot of people out there doing the right thing and trying to make a mark here. I think we are just starting off in an era where filmmakers won't need Hollywood or the Networks anymore to tell everyone what to watch or get their show out there. Even people like Michael Eisner say this is so new and he is having trouble figuring this all out.

So don't won't worry when even the big guys are still taking stabs at this new media front. It's also not any different in TV, Movies or Music. Look how many shows get canceled and they didn't even make to the 3rd episode yet. If you cut things off to soon you don't even give it a chance to sink in. That's where I think New Media/Content Creators whatever you call it have an advantage. We can experiment more and turn on a dime. Bigger productions just can't.

You're videos on blip are great! I would recommend any links you send out to point to your site and not blip to help build your brand. Not to mention having more links on how to contact you and become a fan of your show start collecting emails! Think WordPress! Need help let me know.

You have some cool projects going there. You have to put this on this discussion: The Catalogue

If we can't talk about what we are doing here why would anyone else want too? I would have thought for sure that would be jammed with peoples projects.

-Alex
At the very least this event has made a lot of people start talking to each other about possibilities. I think it's great what John and his group have been able to pull together in such a short amount of time. To me it's to much to much to ask John to keep putting this stuff together. I'm sure he will be there to support any groups that really start working together not to mention help be a connector for the community.

I'm really not sure what everyone is waiting? Maybe everyone is already talking but you wouldn't know from activity on the site. Maybe everyone is happy with the way things are and there really is no need for this? But I find that hard to believe.

As people get together it would be great if they talked about what they are doing and explained their goals. It would encourage others to do the same and participate more in the site and with others. Talking and doing something about it will also give others ideas for what they could be doing to help build this community.

I know Chicago already has a strong community but we are missing something when you look around and see whats going on in the rest of the country with new media.

Come on... what are we waiting for? We had a great kick off and lets get the game going! Get together in the city and the suburbs and lets start making stuff. It can start with 2 people. I'll help just click on my face and ask.

Working for free is a bad thing but maybe some of these things can be thought of as start ups. I think the one ideas has always been that a Director is going to use this for their reel and everyone can use bits and pieces for their reels.

But what if a goal could be, if this works we make a series of it, or spins off in to another shows but with everyone as a team? Sure people would come and go just like anything. But over all the goal would be have a set group of players, meaning actors, writers, directors, the list goes on. It's flexible depending on the projects. At the same time it would be great to team up business and brand people with these creative types to help with the other side of things.

Count me in for any get togethers in the future.

[Jeph Porter]

You very right about this being a new industry and that is very exciting. I do have a website and a show page for the show. I also have an archive of all my other work, and I'm slowly trying to put a lot of stuff up.

I guess I'll keep chugging along and I'll let you guys know if something comes along that could use some help. I'll always be looking to get involved in other people's projects as well.

And again I'm also interested in meeting up and talking about the future of this medium.